Corporate Travel News For Asia

City of Karratha decided (12-Dec-2017) to enter an agreement with Jetgo Australia for twice weekly Brisbane-Karratha-Singapore service. Karratha Mayor Peter Long said the new service could commence by mid 2018, subject to regulatory approvals and mandatory modifications to the Karratha Airport terminal. Jetgo MD Paul Bredereck said Brisbane-Karratha-Singapore service offers new niche opportunities for the airline and the agreement "would underpin Jetgo moving up from its current fleet of Embraer ERJ regional jets in the 37 to 50 seat market segment to the larger 88 seat Embraer E175". Mr Bredereck added the new route is a "logical step for our business and builds on five and a half years of jet operations, including domestic airline services along with domestic and international jet charter services". [more - original PR]

Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter reported (12-Dec-2017) the Tourism Research Australia International Visitor Survey for the year to Sep-2017 shows total visitors to the region rose 4.2% year-on-year to just under 1.1 million, while total spending declined 4.1% to AUD1.2 billion (USD907 million). Mr Winter said the record number of holiday makers within the arrivals figures "shows that the Gold Coast still takes pride of place on people's holiday itineraries and that the appeal and marketing of the destination is strong". The region represents almost half of all holiday visitors to Queensland, with 843,000 holiday visitors over the past 12 months. Mr Winter said Chinese visitor arrivals reached a record 305,000 (+3.4%) and this growth continued to play an important part in the city's economy. Japan is "another source market that we have seen a big jump from", with 69,000 visitors (+23.4%) and "that trend has been over a couple of years", added Mr Winter. [more - original PR]

Condor plans to commence three times weekly Frankfurt-Kuala Lumpur service from 05-Nov-2018 to 22-Apr-2019, according to a 11/12-Dec-2017 GDS inventory and timetable display. The route will be operated by Thomas Cook Airlines UK A330 aircraft. According to OAG, Condor will be the route's sole carrier. [more - original PR - German]

Jetstar Group and Travelport entered (12-Dec-2017) new multi year agreement, offering access to content from Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Pacific and Jetstar Japan to over 68,000 travel agencies globally. Jetstar Group will also deploy Travelport's 'Rich Content and Branding' merchandising solution, allowing the four airlines to display branded fares and ancillary content in a graphically rich and visual way. The branded fares and ancillary content for Jetstar Group carriers is now available for all agents using Travelport's travel commerce platform. [more - original PR]

Cebu Pacific aims to commence Manila-Melbourne service by mid 2018, according to VP of corporate communications JR Mantaring (Manila Standard/bworldonline.com, 11-Dec-2017). Mr Mantaring confirmed an application is "still pending" with the Philippines' Civil Aeronautics Board. The carrier already operates Manila-Sydney service and increased frequency on the route from five times weekly to daily on 01-Dec-2017. Australian tourists visiting the Philippines totalled 166,993 in the first eight months of 2017.

Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo stated (12-Dec-2017) spending by Chinese tourists in Australia reached a new record, exceeding AUD10 billion (USD7.5 billion) for the first time. The International Visitor Survey (IVS) noted the AUD10.3 billion (USD7.8 billion) record from Chinese tourists and an overall record AUD41.2 billion (USD31 billion) in spend by more than eight million international visitors, who accrued a record 268 million visitor nights during the 12 months ended Sep-2017. The growth was led by key Asian markets including China, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Japan. During the past 12 months Australia welcomed 1.33 million Chinese visitors, just shy of the largest arrivals market of New Zealand with 1.35 million. Another market that has seen consistent growth is the US, with visitors and spending both growing by 40% over the last three years. Youth travellers to Australia are also growing strongly with a 10% increase in spend in the 12 month period. Tourism Australia, through its 'Aussie News Today' campaign, will continue to grow the sector, which makes up 46% of all international spend. Spending by international visitors remains strong across the States and Territories, with Tasmania seeing a 33% increase and the ACT a 27% increase in the 12 month period. [more - original PR]

Air China, via its official Weibo account, announced (10-Dec-2017) it launched four times weekly Beijing-Brisbane service on 10-Dec-2017, marking the carrier's sixth service between China and Australia and its third Australian destination after Sydney and Melbourne. The airline operates the service with A330-200 aircraft.

Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) issued (07-Dec-2017) the following renewal determinations and decision:

• China: [2017] IASC 129 issued in favour of Qantas renewing its unlimited capacity allocation to operate all cargo services on the China route. The determination is valid for 10 years from 24-Oct-2018;
• Indonesia:
  • [2017] IASC 132 issued in favour of Virgin Australia, allocating 1980 seats per week, valid for five years from 08-Oct-2018, and permitting the capacity to be used by either Virgin Australia or another Australian carrier which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Virgin Australia;
  • [2017] IASC 133 issued in favour of Virgin Australia, allocating 1260 seats per week on the Indonesia route, valid for five years from 25-Oct-2018;
  • [2017] IASC 130 issued in favour of Qantas, renewing the capacity allocation on the Indonesia route, valid for five years from 25-Oct-2018.
• Singapore: [2017] IASC 131 issued in favour of Qantas allocating unlimited capacity and frequency on the Singapore route other than all cargo services. The determination is valid for 10 years from 31-Oct-2018;
• New Zealand (NZ): Decision [2017] IASC 220 varying Determination [2014] IASC 102 to include conditions permitting the capacity to be used for codeshare services between Qantas and SriLankan Airlines on the New Zealand route. [more - original PR]

SilkAir announced (08-Dec-2017) plans to deploy Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on Singapore-Darwin service on 07-Jan-2018. Darwin Airport will be the first airport in Australia to be served by 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with the carrier recently celebrating the fifth anniversary of services to Darwin. The carrier will also commence 737 MAX service to Cairns on 08-Jan-2018 (Airline Route, 10-Dec-2017).[more - original PR]

Australian Airline Pilot Academy (AAPA) announced (11-Dec-2017) the graduation of the 21st cohort of Regional Express (Rex) cadet pilots and a Vietnamese cadet, destined for Vietnam Airlines. More than 200 Rex cadets graduated from AAPA since 2007 and subsequently transitioned into Rex and its subsidiaries in the rank of First Officer. AAPA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rex. [more - original PR]